Apples Don't Always Shine, Sometimes They Fade
Apples Don't Always Shine, Sometimes They Fade
By huntersunday
The rain, always had a way of hiding the truth. Applejack let out a tired sigh, as the rain fell down upon her. Tilting her head back, she stared into the dark sullen sky, she found solace as the rain hid her tears, the pelting of cold droplets calmed her, the hat she always wore sat in her lap, cradled by her hooves.
A small smile formed on her lips, as a pair of warm hooves, wrapped around her shivering form. With a quick glance, she let herself fall into the embrace. The sight of the gold bracelet, calmed her. She took a moment to let her eyes read the words engraved. Love will always be a surprise, as long as I have you, letting out another sigh, she took a chance to bury her face into her wife’s neck. Feeling the warmth she had gotten use to, she was able to let out a sob.
The hooves did nothing more, but squeezed her tighter. The stranger’s neck started to vibrate, as they slowly started to hum, the sweet voice Applejack had fallen in love with calmed her, she steadied herself as she pulled away. Finally giving her comfort a glance.
A small smile appeared once more, as she took in her wife’s appearance, it always amused her, that when she as sad her wife’s normally puffy main, Would sit flat upon her scalp, and though many would say it was the water that caused it, Applejack knew better. Another thing only she would pick up, her wife's eyes that always held the promise of happiness, now only held concern.
Pulling away from her thoughts, Applejack spoke, “Ah’m sorry, Pinkie, Ah didn't mean to worry you, Ah just needed some air,”
Pinkie Pie smiled, as she shook her head, she leaned in a placed a small kiss on her wife’s lips, “Oh you silly filly, you can't fool your, auntie Pinkie, I know you don't just need air, so I came to give you a super, awesome, comfort hug,”
Applejack couldn't help, but laugh. Through all the years she had been with Pinkie, it still amazed her. That she could always bring joy to her world, even in the most solemn of occasions, it was one of the many reasons she fell in love, with her in the first place.
Pinkie Pie’s smile, started to fall as she spoke,”Honey dew, we need to talk about this, you can't keep this bottled up. It’s like having a great surprise planned, but you never get to share it. Wait I guess that doesn't make much sense? Oh I know it’s like-
Pinkie’s speech was cut short, as Applejack silenced her with as kiss, pulling back, Applejack let out a small sob,” Ah know, Pinks, it's been killing me, Ah know what Ah’m suppose to do, but Ah just don't know if Ah can go see her in that state, it hurts just thinking about it,”
Pinkie Pie’s face turned serious, as her tone turned harsh, “Now you listen here, AJ, she needs you there, we both knew it was going to happen, she needs to see you one last time,” Applejack shuddered, there wasn't many times that her wife, would use a harsh tone, most of the time it happened was her own fault.
Letting out a wail, applejack dropped her face into her hooves, “Ah, know Ah have to go, Ah knew it was coming, it's just not something you can prepare for, Pinks, it's just not fair!”
Pinkie Pie sighed, as she walked around the bench, pulling her wife into another embrace, while she started to stroke her mane , she softly whispered,”I know, Honey dew, but we knew it was coming, I can't say it won't be hard, but I can tell you that it will kill you, if you don't at least say goodbye,”
Applejack shuddered, as she breathed in her wife’s scent, with a shaky breath, she whispered, “Ah know, at least you will be there with me,”
Pinkie smiled, as she placed a small kiss on top of her wife’s head, “ I always will, silly,”
Applejack always hated hospitals, so many things didn't sit right with her. The halls always felt like tunnels of sickness, and sadness. Another fault, was it always felt a little too clean, like they didn't want people to know that this place held so much death, more like they wanted you to think, wow what a nice clean place.
A warm nuzzle snapped her out of her train of thought, with a quick glance into her wife’s comforting eyes, she gulped as she turned back to face the door in front of her. With slight hesitation she reached forward to open it.
Only to have it swing open from the other side, Applejack could only stare, as two tear soaked faces, that she knew all too well, smiled at her. No words was spoken as the to step aside to let her and Pinkie through, nopony needed to speak, all having an understanding of the situation.
Applejack used all of her strength to hold back a sob, at the sight before her. Instead of the strong, spry, and beautiful mare she once knew, now lay a very old and tired one. Many wires were hooked all around her frail form, the old mare looked up with a small smile.
“Ah almost thought, y'all went and forgot about me?” A pang of guilt blossomed through Applejack’s chest at the mare’s words, she knew that she had been avoiding this room like the plague.
Pinkie let a giggle slip, as she pushed herself against her wife, hoping the touch would comfort her. Applejack smiled, as the warmth beside her calmed her nerves, “Ah know, Ah’m right sorry too, Ah shouldn't have been acting like a scared filly, it’s just been real hard on me,”
The mare only smiled, “Ah know it has, and Ah can't say Ah blame you, when we all figured this day would come, we never really could cope with it, it’s all very strange, and unfair to you,”
Applejack’s tears flowed freely as her guilt built once more, even though the mare in front of her was dying, she still showed great care for her, a sob broke through as the thoughts of how unfair the world was being hit her.
Applejack walked forward, wrapping her hooves around the fragile mare, “It’s not fair, Ah should have never had to see this, Ah know it’s your final days- her voice cracked as her sobs flowed- Ah’m so sorry, Ah should have been here more,”
The frail mare smiled, as she placed her hoof on top of Applejack’s own, slowly stroking it, “Ah understand, that's why Ah asked you to swing by, Ah want to ask a favor?”
Applejack only shook her head in understanding, as she buried herself into the mare’s chest, the mare softly spoke as she held on,” Ah want you to promise me, that you will watch over your niece and nephew and their kin, Ah know Big Mac asked the same thing when he passed, but they will always have, Fluttershy,she will always watch her children, Ah won't,”
Applejack pulled back, tears pouring from her eyes, “Oh, Applebloom, you know you didnt have to ask, of course Ah’m going to watch after my kin,”
For the first time since they entered, Pinkie spoke, “And you know I will always be there to throw their birthday parties!”
Applebloom only nodded, as her breath quickened, the machine beside her started to to beep faster. With what little strength she had left, she pushed Applejack away from her, “Applejack, it’s close, Ah can feel it, you have to leave, send in my kids,”
Applejack went to protest, as her sisters vitals started to fail, but stopped in her tracks as her sister gave her a stern glare, “Ah will tell you, just like, Big Mac, Ah will not let my death be a memory, you keep in your head for an eternity, Pinkie! Get her out of here!”
Applejack could only scream her protest, as Pinkie Pie tried to push her out of the room, Pinkie’s strength however could not match the farm grown pony’s strength, as Applejack pushed her back getting closer to her sister.
A soft voice spoke, halting Applejack’s struggle,”Please, Auntie Apple, ma doesn't want you to see her pass, don't take this from her,” Applejack's from slouched as she stared into her young niece Applecrisp’s pleading eyes. With one last glance at her sister’s failing form, she turned away, letting Pinkie Pie guide her out of the room.
As she left the room, another hoof was placed on her shoulder, Applejack took a quick glance at her nephew’s face, Buckaroo smiled “Thank you, for coming, Auntie, it means the world to us, and her”
Applejack only nodded, as she walked away, the world around her started to turn into a haze, it hadn't had hit her so hard when Granny, and Mac passed, but Applebloom was different, she was like a daughter to Applejack, it all seemed so surreal.
Her thoughts were shattered once more, as Pinkie pulled her into an embrace, “It feels like a dream, all those years ago when we found out we were eternal, we never took in that our family’s would pass away in front of us,”
Pinkie smiled as she rubbed her wife's back,”I know it hurts, honey dew, but I’m here, and your family will continue to grow, and I will never leave you, but you need to let go,”
With her love’s word bouncing in her head, Applejack did just what she asked, and buried her cries into her love.
The funeral had been nice, everyone that knew of Applebloom and her great adventures with the other cutie mark crusaders had showed up, even Twilight came to give the service, Applejack smiled as she remembered Rainbow Dash trying to look tough in front of her lover and boss. Rainbow had been with Twilight for a few years and showed up in her captain's uniform, with a good amount of guards to make sure the proceedings went as planned.
Rarity had came as well, giving Applejack and Pinkie, giving her sincerest apologies that her husband couldn't show up, she went into detail about how he was busy helping lead another dragon migrations,but sent his regards, along with a bag full of gems. Applejack wanted to turn it away, but Rarity went into some big spill about dragon rituals and what not. Deciding it wasn't good to argue she kindly accepted it. Secretly planning on giving it to her niece and nephew, once Rarity was gone of course.
Fluttershy had also been there, along side her stood three more proud apple’s. Applejack could only smile, as she remembered Fluttershy's concern for her, she never left her side through the whole ceremony.
Now she stood once more in the rain, as she stared at the stone that now said her sister’s name. Applejack squeezed her wife’s hoof, letting her tears fall with the rain.
“Ah just wanted to thank you, Pinks, if it weren't for you, Ah wouldn't have seen her,before she passed,” Pinkie only giggled as she kissed her cheek.
“Of course silly, that’s what I’m here for, we’re in this together, through the super sad, and the super happy,” Applejack smiled as she lifted her face, letting the water wash her tears.
Another smile appeared, as the faces of all her nieces and nephews flew through her head, taking one last look at her love she spoke, “You know, Pinks, Ah’ve been thinking a lot, and Ah don't think it's fair that only Fluttershy, and Applebloom, have added to our family, giving us so many to look after, when we haven't given Flutter’s any.”
Pinkie let out a gasp a she lifted off the ground, “Are you saying what I think you're saying?Oh please, Oh please, tell me this isn't a prank, cause you know you always said you didn-
Her speech was halted once more as her lips were sealed by another set. Applejack smiled as she pulled back, looking at the tombstone once more her resolve hardened, “Ah know what Ah said, and it was because Ah was scared of watching them go, but with you Ah think Ah could stand it, what Ah’m saying is, Ah want to have a family with you,”
Pinkie Pie’s only reaction was a leap of joy, as she pulled her love into another kiss, the sky above slowly parted, letting a ray of sun cast upon the lovers, because through all the pain and heartache, a small glimpse of life can make any apple shine.